Marathi Should Become Not Only a Language of Communication, but Also of Employment – Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Conclusion of the 99th All India Marathi Literature Conference at Satara

Satara, Jan 2026 : The Marathi language is the soul of our culture, identity, and pride. Everyone must remain conscious that if this language disappears, our very existence will come to an end. Marathi should not remain merely a language of communication, but must become a language of employment as well. Preserving its commercial importance and maintaining the grandeur, authority, and pride of Marathi is not just our duty, but a sacred responsibility. The government has provided a fund of ₹3 crore for this literature conference. Ensuring that such literature conferences do not face a shortage of funds in the future is also the responsibility of the government. Therefore, the government will provide all possible support for the development and promotion of the language, assured Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The 99th All India Marathi Literature Conference was organized in Satara from January 1 to January 4, 2026. Its valedictory ceremony was held in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Shinde. The chief guest of the concluding ceremony was Jnanpith Award–winning senior litterateur Raghuveer Chaudhary. Present on the occasion were Industries and Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant, Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Reception Committee President and Public Works Minister Shrimant Chhatrapati Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Bharat Gogawale, President of the 99th All India Marathi Literature Conference Vishwas Patil, MLA Mahesh Shinde, Executive President Vinod Kulkarni, District Collector Santosh Patil, Chief Executive Officer Yashni Nagarajan, Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi, Municipal President Amol Mohite, Municipal Administration Officer Abhijit Bapat, President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal Prof. Milind Joshi, entrepreneurs, Executive Secretary Sunitaraje Pawar, Patron of the conference Farokh Cooper, and others.

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Shinde said that the foundation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Swarajya was laid on the soil of Satara. Holding the 99th All India Marathi Literature Conference on this sacred land is a matter of pride and honor for all of us. He said this conference is not merely a literary event, but a celebration of the rich tradition, cultural self-confidence, and freedom of thought of the Marathi language. This conference is the Mahakumbh of literature and Marathi language, a confluence of all streams of Marathi. The conference has been enriched with the sweetness of Satara’s kandipey and the love-filled hearts of its people. He assured that the 100th Literature Conference should be held with equal grandeur and the government will ensure no shortage of support for it.

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Shinde thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government for granting classical language status to Marathi. He said that to preserve the commercial importance of Marathi, all mediums such as Marathi literature and theatre must be strengthened. It is the responsibility of Marathi-speaking people to nurture new writers. Marathi should become not just a language of communication, but also of livelihood and employment. The Marathi-speaking society that speaks, listens to, and respects Marathi arts must be preserved and strengthened. On behalf of the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, Reception Committee President Mr. Chh. Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale was felicitated.

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Shinde stated that there will be absolutely no imposition of the Hindi language in Maharashtra and that respect for Marathi will be enhanced. He announced that stalls for selling Marathi literary books will be provided at a 50 percent concession at all ST bus station premises in the state. Efforts will be made to reduce taxes applicable to writing and publishing businesses. He congratulated the organizers wholeheartedly for the successful conduct of the 99th All India Marathi Literature Conference.

Marathi Language Minister Mr. Samant said that the Marathi Language Department has given ₹3 crore for the 99th All India Marathi Literature Conference in Satara. The upcoming conference will be the 100th conference, and on this occasion, important decisions have been taken. Honorary funds in the name of G.D. Madgulkar will be given to the presidents of the past hundred conferences, and from the 100th conference onward, the conference president will receive an honor fund in the name of Mahadji Shinde. One and a half acres of land in Satara MIDC will be provided for the memorial of Tarkatirtha Laxmanshastri Joshi. He said that the translation committee named after late Yashwantrao Chavan will be revived. A letter granting ₹1 crore for the Pune building of the Sahitya Parishad was also handed over.

Reception Committee President Mr. Chh. Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale said that literature lovers enjoyed a rich literary feast at the Satara conference. Due to the overwhelming response to all events—book exhibitions, poetry sessions, ghazal sessions, publication forums, book processions, children’s platforms, storytelling, interviews, book discussions, seminars, and comedy events—the conference achieved great success. Nearly eight lakh Marathi literature enthusiasts visited the conference over four days, which could be a record. He expressed hope that Satara would host the All India Theatre Conference this year as well.

Conference President Mr. Vishwas Patil said the conference added to Satara’s glory. He emphasized the need to make the younger generation understand aesthetics, figures of speech, and humor in Marathi. He warned that social media is increasingly becoming socially disruptive and assured that all necessary battles would be fought for the cultural existence of Marathi.

Senior litterateur Mr. Chaudhary expressed optimism after witnessing the respect shown to Marathi by the Maharashtra government and the people. President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal Prof. Milind Joshi said the conference was literature- and reader-centric and that its impact would resonate for a long time, producing many new writers. He announced that the 100th Literature Conference will be held in Pune, completing a full circle, and a special literature conference will also be organized in Dubai.